$3.17 Billion Budget OK'd For Alameda County

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA – The Alameda County Board of Supervisors has approved a $3.17 billion budget for the new fiscal year that began on July 1 that closes a $108.5 million funding gap without having to significantly reduce county programs or staff.

Board members said they were able to close the funding gap, which is the difference between the cost of maintaining existing county programs and projected revenues, through a combination of spending reductions, revenue increases and one-time strategic changes such as efficiency measures.

Supervisors said their spending plan allows the county to expand affordable housing programs, augment efforts to fight poverty and address other pressing community needs.

County officials said the budget supports a county workforce of 9,708 full-time employees, provides more than a half-billion dollars to support more than 300 community service providers and allows them to continue upgrading infrastructure and build up their financial reserves.

A large portion of the budget gap that had to be closed was $40 million in new costs passed on by the state as part of Governor Jerry Brown's plan to end a state-county cost-sharing setup to fund mandated in-home
supportive services that provide home health care for the elderly and disabled.

Supervisors said that under the state budget that Brown signed on June 27, that portion of the county's budget gap will be closed with state general fund revenue to be provided in the coming year as well as accelerated payment of vehicle license fees and sales tax revenues that the state collects.

But supervisors said they remain concerned about Brown's plan because local government's share of in-home supportive services will grow significantly in upcoming years without additional relief from the state.

Board members said the challenge of keeping county finances in balance isn't likely to ease because soaring housing costs and other factors are forcing many residents to rely on government services and changes in
federal policy likely will affect the county.

They also said they're concerned about forecasts suggesting that the economy, which has been recovering for eight years, could soon fall back into a recession.

Supervisors said the good news is that an increase in real estate market values has led to a 7 percent rise in the county's assessment roll.

They said that money will allow the county to expand its affordable housing projects, including partnerships that in the past year supported 11 new projects in the community that will create more than 700 affordable units.

Board members said that in the next year they will expand programs to help middle-income homebuyers and low-income renters.

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